Spine and Back Injuries & Conditions

A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament, and a strain is a stretched or torn muscle or tendon. Back sprains and strains cause pain and inflammation in the ligaments, muscles and tendons that support the spine.

These sprains and strains can result from overuse, falls, sudden twists, poorly fitting footwear or forceful impacts such as tackles or other contact during sports.

Injuries and conditions, such as radiculopathy or overuse due to repetitive movements, can cause neck or back pain.

Commonly known as a pinched nerve, radiculopathy is compression of a nerve where it branches off the spinal cord. The pressure causes pain, numbness or tingling in various parts of the body, depending on the location of the pinched nerve.

Radiculopathy can result from sudden injuries, accidents and overuse. Nerve compression in the:

• Neck and upper back causes symptoms in the arms
• Middle of the back causes symptoms in the torso
• Lower back affects the lower body and legs

Disks are flat, circular, rubbery pads that cushion the vertebrae (bones in the spine) and act as shock absorbers. A sudden twist, fall or direct impact to the back can injure disks, causing a herniated disk, also known as a torn, ruptured, bulging or slipped disk.

Another cause of disk problems is normal wear and tear through aging, also known as degenerative disk disease.

Stress fractures can develop in the vertebrae as a result of repetitive stress, especially in the lower back. This condition, spondylolysis, most often affects young athletes who participate in football, weightlifting and gymnastics.

Spondylolysis can lead to a condition known as spondylolisthesis, which is a vertebra that begins to slip out of place in the spine.